When the major U.S. credit card companies — including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express — agreed to switch to chip-enabled payment cards, many saw it as a way to chip away at billions of dollars in losses from payment card fraud. Unfortunately, more than three years after the major U.S. card companies mandated a liability shift for certain in-store payment card transactions, credit card fraud continues to plague the United States.

Statistics collected from October 2017 to October 2018 show that criminals compromised roughly 45.8 million payment cards via point-of-sale (POS) devices. Of those thefts, 90% were chip cards, according to a report by cybersecurity firm Gemini Advisory.

How have thieves stolen data from chip cards, and why has the adoption of chip cards failed to generate similar reductions in fraud as it did in the United Kingdom and Canada? The answers may help U.S. merchants and credit card companies understand how to curb future losses.

Chip Cards

How do chip cards help fight payment card fraud? Chip cards — also known as Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) cards — contain tiny metallic squares that are actually minicomputers, designed to generate a unique encrypted code for each transaction. Instead of being swiped, EMV-equipped cards are dipped into the merchant’s card reader for about 10 seconds, giving the card’s chip and the merchant’s terminal time to communicate. The time it takes to complete a chip-card transaction is similar to the time it takes to pay cash and receive change.

Outside of the United States, chip cards typically require a personal identification number (PIN) to authenticate transactions. This enhances the security of chip cards issued abroad, because criminals must steal a payment card number along with the cardholder’s PIN.

Many U.S. merchants have been reluctant to switch to chip-and-PIN cards, because some chip card readers aren’t equipped to accept PINs, just signatures. In addition, some cardholders aren’t in favor of memorizing PINs and, instead, prefer to authenticate transactions with signatures as they’ve done in the past.

Magnetic Strip Cards

By comparison, magnetic strip cards store static information, similar to old-fashioned music cassette tapes. Instead of dipping the payment card in a reader, cardholders swipe the card to allow the merchant’s POS to read the information encoded on the card’s magnetic strip. This outdated technology makes them easy targets for hackers.

When issuing new chip-enabled cards, U.S. card issuers didn’t remove magnetic strips from the back of the new cards. While that decision provided merchants and their customers with two ways to complete transactions — and a backup in case a POS device was unable to read a chip — it reduced the pressure on merchants to invest in new POS chip readers. As a result, some merchants haven’t yet updated their card readers.

When a cardholder swipes the magnetic strip on a chip card, instead of dipping it, they make it possible for criminals to steal data from the less secure magnetic strip. Once the information is stolen, it can be used to create a cloned card that can be used online or at merchants that haven’t upgraded their POS devices.

Facilitating Secure Payments

Consumers aren’t directly affected by the liability shift when their credit cards are dipped, instead of swiped. The change just transferred liability from credit card companies to merchants that continue to accept magnetic strip cards for in-store purchases. Consumers do, however, benefit indirectly from the shift, because chip cards generally offer a more secure payment method.

Nonetheless, if criminals continue to steal U.S. payment card numbers from POS systems, cardholders still may be forced to accept replacement cards and then update their monthly autopayments for their new card numbers. This inconvenience, in turn, may cause consumers to pressure merchants to speed up their adoption of chip technology — and credit card companies to adopt PIN-and-chip technology.

Merchants that haven’t yet upgraded their equipment and internal processing systems to allow for the processing of chip cards should do so immediately. In addition, they might consider enabling mobile near field communication (NFC) payments, such as Apple Pay or Google Wallet. Doing so is likely to minimize the long-term cost and hassle of upgrading card readers, as well as providing optimal flexibility and fraud protection when processing transactions for years to come.

About the author:

​The TMA Small Business Accounting, P.C. staff have been delivering professional services to small businesses in Central Indiana for over 20 years. Having worked with hundreds of small business clients, we have significant expertise with a wide variety of service businesses in Indiana. We have especially strong experience and expertise in working with businesses in the healthcare (medical, dental, etc.) and foodservice (restaurants, caterers, etc.) industries.

As I was shoveling my driveway in Iowa for the third time this week I was pondering why, exactly, I felt compelled to leave Aruba. Certainly it wasn’t because of the beach, which is one of the best, safest combinations of sun and surf I have ever come across.

We were at Eagle Beach, on the west side of Aruba. It sported fine-grained sand that your feet sank into nicely, without scorching bare feet. Palm trees provided shade, and elsewhere on there were palapas – thatched roofs hoisted atop poles that kept the sun away.

The water temperature was great. You can Google any city you want for monthly water temperature. That’s one reason I chose Aruba, as it had the warmest water in the Caribbean (78 in January, a comfortable temperature, versus 71 for Miami Beach).

And there were no waves to pound on me as I splashed about. We had been to Baja California the year before and found it, well, dangerous. That’s mainly due to its waves, which were 3-4 feet high when they hit the beach and could easily knock you down.

We’d also been to the French Riviera, which is pretty but whose beaches are mostly rounded stones that are very uncomfortable to walk or lay on. Plus, partygoers in Nice sometimes haul in bottles and leave behind them, or their shards. If you want sand, try up the coast in Antibes.

So that’s how I define a safe beach: Smooth sand coupled with placid, shallow waters that coddle even novices. Ideally there would be a lifeguard, though I saw none at Eagle Beach.

About the Author: Steve Dinnen ​Steve is a freelance writer specializing in financial and travel news. He received his Bachelors Degree from Drake University and his Master of Journalism from Oklahoma University.

Mr. Dinnen served as Sr. Business Reporter for the Des Moines Register, Business News Editor for the Indianapolis Star and served as Editor (freelance) for the Christian Science Monitor of its weekly personal finance column.

It was December 1942. The United States had been engaged in World War II for slightly more than twelve months. For a child of seven years of age, these were exciting and yet frightful times. It was a time of intense patriotism and adventure. Those were marvelous combinations for a young boy with a vivid imagination. Frightening because the news from the battlefronts was not cheerful and, in more than a few cases, devastatingly negative. The U.S. had not, as yet, turned the corner that would lead to victory in Europe and Asia. Our family, of four, plus Mary, who was part of our family, caring for my sister and me, were going to spend our first Christmas away from family and friends in Indianapolis.

My father, a family physician, had enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and had been inducted in the summer of 1942 receiving a rank of Captain. His first military assignment was at Truex Field in Madison, Wisconsin. We would spend the first Christmas of five in the military. Truex Field was a good example of how unprepared we were in America to go to war. Even though we had been engaged in the battles for over a year, the base was hardly ready for the training of men and women for war. As an example, the field hospitals had not been readied and military patients were scattered in civilian facilities all over the capital of Wisconsin. Many of the barracks were not livable having been constructed on marsh lands which led to them sinking in mud up to several feet deep.

My sister, Kathy, and I were just happy to be with our Dad again, having missed him through the summer months while he established a home for us in Madison. He selected a wonderful location on the shores of Lake Mendota about a mile and a half from the campus of the University of Wisconsin. It was a marvelous home overlooking the lake. I now realize that the people who rented the house to our family must have considered our family plight because I doubt if we could have afforded the home on a Captain’s pay. It was truly exciting to go fishing off the pier or take a rowboat to the center of the lake and drop a line to catch perch.

We loved the gentle breezes of Mendota during the late summer and early fall months. When school began in September, we enjoyed the friendship of a whole new group of youngsters. That was one very positive thing to come out of the service. We made friends very quickly because we knew we would not be stationed in one place for very long.

As the weather changed, it became very cold. The snows were beginning to build and trudging to school meant detouring several blocks to avoid the strong winds off the lake. The short daylight hours were frigid and bleak. The realization of our first Christmas away began to settle in. We had become house-bound. There was no escaping the walls that seemed to capture our spirits and drain imaginations. We found things to amuse us, but nothing seemed to take the place of staring out of the windows and wondering what it would be like to slide down the hill to the lake on a sled. We did get outside, but it was so cold, we couldn’t take the chill for very long.

Kathy was almost two and a half years younger than I and was still very much in enthralled with Santa Claus. As her older brother, it was my job embellishing and perpetuating the story of the Jolly Old Elf, and carrying on as if the tradition would last forever. I know I didn’t do a very good job of pretending, but it was difficult for me to sit on Santa’s lap and smile at my sister while doing so.

In our family, Santa always put up the Christmas Tree about a week before the holiday while we were supposedly sound asleep. I had discovered the “Mom and Dad trick” a year or two before. I waited until my sis was old enough to appreciate my observation, and I alerted her to the charade going on downstairs in the living room. She bought that part of the story, but Santa maintained a prized position in her memory for years still to come.

As kids, we had sensed Christmas would never be the same during the war. Away from family and friends; no more decorating the outdoor trees; rationing on many of the basics that created candies, cakes and cookies. For my sister, how would Santa find our new address? I know these images must have entered the minds of our Mom and Dad because Kathy and I observed they were going above normal to prepare us for a Christmas in a slightly different way.

There weren’t as many holiday cards that first war year. My Dad received a number of greetings from his civilian patients. Most of them included a message of spirited patriotism and thankfulness for his service. I do remember getting some cards from classmates, but none from my friends at home. As December 25th drew near, the Christmas carols took on a different meaning than before. The words to “I’ll be home for Christmas,” had significance to me because it stressed the difference our present war time home life was to peace time. Even Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” could bring a choked-up feeling when it was played.

I’m not sure what my sister asked for from Santa that year. My requests were for “Lincoln Logs” ® and “Tinker Toys” ®. These were modest choices considering the seriousness of the war news. Those gifts had a lasting value because they didn’t break easily. I knew that Christmas might never be the same again.

Then, a few days before Christmas, my parents announced a surprise that put us all in the holiday spirit. My Dad’s parents, along with our Aunt Suzie and cousin Ronnie, would be in our home during the holiday. It was instantly like old times. Once again the joy of Christmas seemed to spring forth through our household. The decorations that had seemed bland became beautiful. Even the traditional carols took on a magical luster.

Though our tour of duty kept us away from our home in Indianapolis, from that Christmas on I knew we would make it back and everything would return to normal.

Merry Christmas…and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to one and all…and “May all your Christmases be white!”

This article was written by Norm Wilkens

Norm Wilkens is a nationally recognized speaker and writer, Norman Wilkens has traveled to forty-seven of the fifty states speaking on topics of marketing, advertising and public relations. His most noteworthy subjects include: Healthcare Marketing; Multi-generational travel and Baby Boomers - their contribution to society and economics. He is presently serving as Midwestern Contributor to California’s AAA WESTWAYS Magazine.

Among Wilkens’ current activities are the Butler University Alumni Board of Directors; Butler’s Central Indiana Alumni Chapter Board; Chairman of the Board of Visitors for the new Communication College of Butler; Board of Directors of Ruth Lilly Educational Foundation; Salvation Army of Indiana Advisory Board and as an Elder at Second Presbyterian Church of Indiana.

I have a confession to make; I’ve been cheating on you. It all started ten years ago, after the spring 2019 market crash. You told me that even though we’d been hit hard that we’d be all right. But John, you sounded like a broken record after saying the same thing in 2001 and 2008. Frankly, I couldn’t take it anymore.

That $100,000 you noticed missing from the checking account that year, I really didn’t spend it on shoes like you thought. I bought a fixed annuity with a lifetime benefit rider. Buying the annuity turned out to be a smart move since strife and uncertainty over China caused extreme stock market volatility in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Through it all the annuity kept growing and the guaranteed income grew even faster.

I remember you suggesting at one point that we simply sell our stocks and mutual funds and put all the money into gold. Of course, after that Iranian nuclear accident in 2023 caused all the spiders to begin spinning webs of gold the bottom fell out of the market – I understand gold is down to $35 a ton.

I remember you suggesting at one point that we simply sell our stocks and mutual funds and put all the money into gold. Of course, after that Iranian nuclear accident in 2023 caused all the spiders to begin spinning webs of gold the bottom fell out of the market – I understand gold is down to $35 a ton.

I know that President Gaga says this recession is simply because we were born this way and if we keep our poker face showing to the rest of the world that we will be on the edge of glory, but since China now owns our national parks as payment for our Treasury debt I’m just not as optimistic as I used to be. Fortunately, that annuity will allow me to retire this year with an income far higher than I ever dreamed and the certainty that it will be around as long as I am...a certainty you were never able to give me.

John, you’ve been a great stockbroker, but I’ve left you for my annuity agent.

All my love,

Mary

About Dr. Jack MarrionDr. Marrion’s research on senior decision making and the financial world have been featured in hundreds of publications including: Business Week, Kiplinger, Smart Money, and The Wall Street Journal. He is the author of six books and a frequent media guest.

About twenty years ago, I bought my dad a voice-activated audio cassette recorder. He was in his mid-80s at the time and almost completely blind. I told him, “Dad, just talk to the tape recorder and tell your life story from 1912 to the present.” He agreed and over the next year or so Dad recorded about eleven or twelve hours of his personal history. Since then, and especially since Dad has been gone a long time, I’ve transferred those cassettes to CDs and .mp3 files for my five siblings and all of our kids and grandkids.

In the financial planning and insurance business, we hear the term “legacy” tossed about frequently. Usually, the term refers to our financial legacy – our estate – that includes, of course, life insurance and other financial holdings. But I’m here to remind you that “legacy” covers much more territory than just money. In fact, as I mentioned above, it includes dozens and dozens of “things” that probably have no intrinsic dollar value at all. For example, I’m guessing my Dad’s audio recordings wouldn’t fetch much at a garage sale, but to all of us Stones, they are priceless!

When it comes to those “one-of-a-kind” family treasures, here’s a fact you might not be aware of: old audio tapes (reel to reel, cassettes, micro-cassettes, and even those “classic” 8-track cartridges) and your family video cassettes (VHS and BetaMax) are deteriorating every single day. At some point, you won’t be able to play them, even if you can find a working machine in the basement or at Goodwill! So, if you’d like to watch your Aunt Martha and Uncle George dance the samba at Cousin Chrissy’s wedding back in 1983, you’d better hurry! The same goes for Little Julie’s first hit in Little League baseball, Junior’s solo performance at the Fall Festival impersonating Elvis, or that surprise birthday party for your mom’s 60th birthday when she slipped and fell, face-first, into her three-layered cake! Or, how about that favorite record album that’s out of print?

Luckily for all us, a small cottage industry has grown up over the past couple decades that specializes in transferring all of these media formats to current, virtually indestructible formats. We can, for example, transfer all of your old VHS tapes to crystal clear DVDs, so you can share those precious family memories with generations to come. We can take your old home movie film – 8mm, Super 8, 16mm, even 35mm – and enhance and restore it so that it looks better than the original in many cases – delivered to you on DVD that you can copy and share with friends and family around the world.

Oh and one more thing. Among the most enjoyable projects I get in on occasion is what I call “Individual Tribute” videos that we produce for a special occasion: anniversaries, special birthdays, retirement parties, graduations, and, quite often, memorial services. For these videos, we transfer all sorts of media to DVD – photos, slides, video tapes, home movies, newspaper articles, yearbook photos, bowling trophies, and audio tapes… just about anything we can scan or photograph, we can put into your special tribute video!

Aside from my “not-so-subtle” commercial message, my point is simply this: Don’t put off transferring those memories to modern formats. Contact me through your Safe Money Places agent or just take a look in your local community for a company that does this kind work. Back in 1991, I helped one of my closest friends start his own business (Home Video Studio) that today has grown into an international concern. Look him up online: www.homevideostudio.com.

And think about this scenario for a moment. What do you think that most victims of home fires try to grab as they’re rushing their family and pets outside? Their jewelry? Their flat-screen TV? Their computer? (Well, maybe their computer!) Surveys show that most families try to save their family photos and videos. Because they are priceless and usually irreplaceable. But, if you’ve transferred all of your audio and video media onto discs, you could place a copy of each one in a small safety deposit box or give complete sets to other family members … or both! You could probably transfer every single movie, video, audio, photo, and slides onto a dozen or fewer DVDs or CDs – about the size of shoebox. And you’ll have a collection that will outlive several generations of your family.

By all means, be sure to take care of your financial legacy by working with your Safe Money Places Agent, but don’t forget those other priceless treasures stored away in a closet, desk, or dresser. That’s as important a legacy as you can leave as anything else

About the Author: Al Stone, Video/Audio Engineer

Al Stone - an announcer in the heyday of WNAP-FM, Indianapolis - began by providing musical identification packages (jingles) to advertisers all over the country. His classic radio voice, writing skills, musical abilities, and talents as a producer attracted business from across the US, Canada, and foreign countries.

Maintaining good records is important to help meet your tax and legal obligations. The right record-keeping system not only helps satisfy these obligations, but it may save you money and time. Here’s what to consider for your record-keeping system.

What Records Do You Need to Keep?

The first step is identifying the records you need to maintain. The obvious examples include leases, contracts, payroll and personnel records and a range of accounting and finance information, such as invoices, receipts, checks, payables and inventory. Please consult a professional with tax expertise regarding your individual situation.¹

How Do You Want to Keep Them?

Record maintenance can take three basic forms:

Paper-based: It’s old school, but maintaining records in file folders stored in a metal cabinet may be sufficient, though at the risk of files being damaged or destroyed with no backup.

Computer-based:Maintaining records on computers save space and make records management easier. Consider backing up files and keeping them off-site.Cloud computing: Records are stored and managed on the internet, offering possible savings on software, reducing the risk of lost data and providing access from any location.

What Software Should You Use?

The right software can make life more productive; the wrong software may cost you time and money.

When shopping for software, consider:

The size of your organization. Do you want an easy-to-use package, or are you able to hire a dedicated employee to take advantage of a more sophisticated alternative?

What sort of training and support is provided? Without the right measure of either, your software may not be the productivity tool you envisioned.

Is specialized software available? The needs of different professions can vary greatly. Specialized software may have capabilities not available with more generic software.

What are its mobile capabilities? If you operate your business from the road, you may want your software to have robust mobile features.

The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties.

About the author:

​The TMA Small Business Accounting, P.C. staff have been delivering professional services to small businesses in Central Indiana for over 20 years. Having worked with hundreds of small business clients, we have significant expertise with a wide variety of service businesses in Indiana. We have especially strong experience and expertise in working with businesses in the healthcare (medical, dental, etc.) and foodservice (restaurants, caterers, etc.) industries.

The field of “Sports” has had a significant influence on Indianapolis, Indiana, during the eighty-plus years that I have lived in the Capital City. From the outset, over one hundred years ago, with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the famous “500 Mile Race” to the present day NFL Indianapolis Colts, NBA Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Indians Baseball Team and The Fuel Hockey Team, all have contributed to the luster and glory that sports have brought to the “Circle City.” Once again, “sports” are making a major contribution to the future success of a major entity in Indiana’s Capital.

It was a personal pleasure this past Spring to have a preview visit to “The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience at The Children’s Museum.” If the title doesn’t take your breath away, the “experience” will.

The 7.5 acre, $38.5 million project is by far the most exciting and worthwhile addition to the local sports scene in decades. It encompasses both opportunities for sports participation and fitness while encouraging learning, fun and entertainment through sports memorabilia and challenges for all ages. The emphasis is on family participation.

The challenge is where to begin enjoying the various “Sports Legends Experiences.” There is so much to see and do that it is difficult to determine a starting point. I was initially shown some of the displays in the “Old National Bank Sports Legends Avenue of Champions.” Various sports “Legends” who have inspiring stories with strong Indiana connections are featured. The names are familiar to all who have ever resided within the boundaries of the Hoosier State: Oscar Robertson; Larry Bird; Tamika Catchings; DaMarcus Beasely and A.J. Foyt, to name just a few. Add to those illustrious individuals Wayne Gretzky; Bobby “Slick: Leonard; Reggie Miller; Wilma Rudolph; Reggie Wayne and Barbara Wynne. Hopefully, you are beginning to understand my challenge in trying to cover all there is to know about the many “legends” presented.

Moving along as quickly as my legs and mind would allow, displays covering the accomplishments of the before mentioned legends as well as the various collegiate and pro athletes and teams that have performed so admirably within our State were presented. Best of all, there was the opportunity to practice my sports technique, such as it is, against the legends while shooting hoops against a time clock; agility and balance through rowing; blocking and kicking football and soccer goals and even becoming a broadcaster announcing my personal great moments in sports.

All that was covered before I had the opportunity to see the greatest challenges of them all – outside The World’s Largest Children’s Museum. That’s right…as the saying goes, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!” Within easy walking or running distance, depending upon your agility, are a dozen experiences on paths made of soft, spongy material to prevent injury should you stumble or fall. You can test your various mental and physical skills against time clocks, hoops and goals. Your personal “bests” will come together to create your own legendary family moments.

Try a hand at shooting baskets geared toward various age and size requirements; kick field goals and participate in soccer games; play golf on special links designed by Pete and Alice Dye; race along on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pedal Car Racetrack; Church Brothers Collision Repair Drag Strip or the Barbara Wynne Tennis Challenge. Are you getting the picture? There is far too much to see and do in one trip to the Museum. The “Legends” will take more time and trips to accomplish all there is to do.

Before we go, however, you will want to experience the “Fantasy Tree House of Sports” which dominates one end of the sports field. This sixty-foot tree was inspired by Disney’s “Tree of Life” letting visitors climb among giant pieces of sports equipment and provides a platform overlooking all the outside sports venues. The view is breath-taking and can only begin to make you appreciate the many sports experiences in which you have participated.

The Museum located at 3000 North Illinois Street is open Sunday thru Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday thru Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The doors are closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mondays. after Labor Day through February. For pricing of the “Legends” consult the Museum’s e-mail address: www.childrenmuseum.org/sport-experience.

This article was written by Norm Wilkens

Norm Wilkens is a nationally recognized speaker and writer, Norman Wilkens has traveled to forty-seven of the fifty states speaking on topics of marketing, advertising and public relations. His most noteworthy subjects include: Healthcare Marketing; Multi-generational travel and Baby Boomers - their contribution to society and economics. He is presently serving as Midwestern Contributor to California’s AAA WESTWAYS Magazine.

Among Wilkens’ current activities are the Butler University Alumni Board of Directors; Butler’s Central Indiana Alumni Chapter Board; Chairman of the Board of Visitors for the new Communication College of Butler; Board of Directors of Ruth Lilly Educational Foundation; Salvation Army of Indiana Advisory Board and as an Elder at Second Presbyterian Church of Indiana.

Several months ago I was asked by the president of my organization to assume a new role on an interim basis. While I had worked with each of the groups I was being asked to supervise, the new responsibility would be totally outside of my day-to-day experience. Oh, and I had to make this decision in the next 2 1/2 hours.

When situations like this present themselves, what do you do?

The safe route is just that—safe. It’s easiest to decline and stay right where you are. You can think of reasons to justify that decision. You don’t know that part of the organization. Who will take your role if you’re not there? You’re not ready for it.Each of those thoughts ran through my mind. But I also had other thoughts, competing for space in my head. These included: This is a way to grow, I will learn new things and meet new people, the president must think I can do this, my associate dean is ready to be the dean.

So when he asked me what I thought, I candidly replied, “This scares me to death. But I will paraphrase Richard Branson [CEO of Virgin] who said, ‘When someone asks you to do something amazing, say yes and then figure out how to do it.’ ”So I said yes.

Saying yes is not necessarily the right decision for every person. But think about what you would do if a similar situation was presented to you.

I had been a business dean in three institutions for about 16 years. While each institution was quite different, the job was essentially the same. I chose to be a dean again and again for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was that it was easy for me, especially as a mom who wanted to be present for most of her kids’ activities. I knew how to do this job inside and out, and I was comfortable.

But about a year before I was asked to assume my new role, I told the president that I was getting into “maintenance mode,” which is a not a good thing for me. I am a builder, a change agent, a “make things better” person, and I was running out of ideas. The president remembered that conversation when he needed someone for the interim role.

He understood that I had not spent time in the part of the university he was asking me to lead. But his confidence in my abilities to lead, manage and communicate gave me the willingness to leap into the unknown.

I see folks stuck in lots of jobs. Maybe they never should have taken the job to begin with, as their skills and experiences are not a good fit with what they are doing. Or perhaps they once were quite happy but now are miserable. They might even think no one realizes how miserable they are. On the contrary, everyone does. Maybe, like me, they need to grow in a new direction and, for whatever reason, haven’t had the gumption to pursue anything new.

Please don’t stay stuck! If anything I’ve said resonates with you, look for new opportunities, either within your organization or outside it, so you can stretch yourself. Learning new things is quite exciting, but also intimidating. I haven’t been this stimulated in probably five years. Is it scary? Of course! But sometimes a little fear of failure can provide the impetus to work that much harder to ensure your success.

The goal is growing and helping the organization. So I’m glad I took the leap of faith and said yes when asked to do something different. While you may not be asked, you are in charge of your career and can certainly pursue new growth opportunities. Update that resume and get started today!

About the Author: Lynne Richardson

Lynne has served as a business dean at Ball State, Mississippi State and is currently at the University of Mary Washington.

She holds a PhD in Marketing from the University of Alabama and writes a weekly column, Management Matters, that appears in the Fredericksburg, VA Free Lance-Star newspaper.

The study of aging is incredibly important. Although it’s a process we all go through, the amount of research on aging is sorely lacking. Considering that the number of people in the United States over the age of 65 outnumbers the entire population of Canada, it’s obvious that need for research into the aging process is dire. Understanding the biology of aging doesn’t require a lab coat, but it does require knowledge of the jargon around the science. For the convenience of America’s senior population, here’s a helpful breakdown of all the facts and figures on aging seniors need to know.

About Caloric RestrictionCaloric restriction is an eating practice seniors might want to consider. However, always remember it’s crucial to discuss any potential diet changes with your doctor before engaging in them. However, knowing the language around caloric restriction can help you ask the right questions. Scientifically speaking, caloric restriction is described as “undernutrition without malnutrition” and is essentially eating 30-40% fewer calories while still maintaining nutrients and vitamins to support a healthy lifestyle. Preliminary results from studies conducted on monkeys demonstrates success in extending lifespans through caloric restriction. This has not been tested in humans yet, but the results in other organisms are promising. Still, it’s important to keep in mind that a calorie restricted diet makes mammals more susceptible to hypothermia and increases healing time for wounds.

Protein p53 and TumorsProtein p53 is a tumor suppressor—meaning that it acts to combat the cell mutation that causes cancer. It occurs naturally in the body but is disrupted by damage to your DNA. The question of whether aging causes DNA damage or DNA damage causes aging is one that scientists have been arguing for several years. However, regardless of their answer, what seniors need to know is that proper nutrition can help increase DNA repair, making it easier to support protein p53 and the important work it does in protecting our bodies from cancerous cells. Eating lemons, persimmons, strawberries, apples, broccoli, and celery has been shown to aid in DNA repair so keep these around the house and you’ll be taking active steps towards wellness.

Oxidative DamageROS, or reactive oxygen species, are oxygen-containing molecules produced naturally when the body turns food into energy. This is a process that we see in many instances of nature; for example, the way an apple browns in the sun or rust occurring on iron. The more we age, the more likely oxidative damage is because our cell’s defenses against it is reduced. Oxidative damage can lead to Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and age-related deafness. However, consuming antioxidants helps boost the body’s ability to protect itself. Examples of foods high in antioxidants are: grapes, blueberries, red berries, nuts, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and other orange vegetables like carrots, green tea, and whole grains.

No matter where you are in the aging process, eating right is one strategy you can employ to slow the cell damage and oxidation and help keep our brains and bodies strong even in old age. However, buying fresh vegetables, supplements, and vitamins can become costly especially considering a large portion of seniors rely on social security to make ends meet. Fortunately, there is a way you can increase financial liquidity after retirement. Did you know if you still maintain a life insurance policy, you can sell all or a portion of your policy for an amount greater than the cash surrender value? This is known as a life settlement and can provide the stability you crave. Contact Life Settlement Advisors to learn more.

Case Study:Patricia’s two children are grown, married with their own children and live more than a seven-hour drive away. Patricia wanted to be closer to her grandchildren. Her oldest son convinced her to move closer to him. Patricia sold her life insurance policy and used the funds to ease the cost of moving and find a comfortable new living arrangement.

about the author

Leo LaGrottellagrotte@lsa-llc.com317-863-5936

As the Founder, President, and CEO of Life Settlement Advisors, Leo has spent more than 18 years working in the life settlement and viatical settlement industry. Leo’s career began as an investment advisor, operating his own independent firm for seven years. Through his work as an investment advisor, and as the President of Life Settlement Advisors, Leo has gained a broad knowledge of investments, life insurance, and the analysis and pricing of life insurance policies.

I know that it is sometimes easier to say than actually do. So many things are racing through our minds. This is especially true if you are near or at retirement. There are so many things to consider. We have family that we worry about. They can be kids or grandkids. Where will they go to school, how are they financially? Will they need our help? Or, how can we help?

Let’s not forget ourselves. Will I have enough retirement income to keep me in the lifestyle that I have become accustomed to? Will my money last? What about a downturn in the stock market? Do I have too much equity exposure? And, let’s not forget our health, long term care needs, and the money to take care of all these things. And, with all this in mind, how can you “go to bed happy and wake up happy?” The answer is to start emptying your “worry buckets.” And, the way to do that is with some planning. Let’s take a look:

There is an old saying that goes something like this. When young, the question is if I will die. When we get older, the question is... when will I die. If we all knew the answer to that, life would be simpler but I don’t think enjoyable as we approach that end date. So, how about some good soul searching questions. If you happen to be married, do it with your spouse. Let’s look:

If you happened to pass away now, would those that are dependent upon you be in decent shape? If the answer is no, take a look at your life insurance portfolio. Maybe you need some more. Maybe you want to sell all or a portion of your life insurance portfolio.

Want to look at long term care types of expenses? What happens of you can’t perform 2 of the 6 activities of daily living? Do you have a financial vehicle that would spring alive and provide you with cash now? They do exist, and it doesn’t have to be a long term care policy.

Have you pre-paid for your funeral and expenses around that event? It makes it much easier on your family if you have.

Are your beneficiary designations up to date on your policies and investments?

What about your will? Up to date or need a revision?

Have you made a distinction between your wants and needs? You know, separating your essential and discretionary income needs.

What about your doctor? Are you going in regularly for a checkup?

In closing, I did have an event happen that shook me around. My wife passed away with complications in surgery. Being in this business, I had a pretty good plan and felt comfortable. Now that my life has changed, I went back and revisited everything I mentioned above. I took the steps to make sure that everyone was protected... including myself.

So, I am not going to say that I have emptied all “worry buckets” but I have most of them. And it allows me to “go to bed happy and wake up happy.” Is there anything better than that? Maybe you need to sit down with a financial professional and take a look at your situation.

About the Author: Raymond J. Ohlson CLU, CRC, LACPCEO & President of The Ohlson Group, Inc. and SMP International, LLC

Mr. Ohlson entered the insurance business while completing his Bachelor of Science Degree at Ball State University. He quickly qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) of which he is a Life Member. He also received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.​Mr. Ohlson, a former life insurance company president, currently sits on college and hospital boards and is a published author.

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Raymond J. Ohlson, CLU, CRC, is the CEO of SMP International LLC which owns safemoneyplaces.com. Mr. Ohlson is a licensed insurance agent in all states with the exception of New York. If you request information, regarding a product or service, you may be contacted by a life insurance agent licensed in your state.